"Error! Unknown Switch Argument." Reading German Word File

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows, German International Localized version 2.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows, French International Localized version 2.0

SYMPTOMS

In Word version 2.0, the message "Error! Unknown switch argument" appears when you attempt to update a Microsoft Draw object in a file that was originally created in the German version of Word 2.0.

Files created in German Word 2.0 and opened in U.S. Word 6.0a will not exhibit this problem. However, if the file is opened in U.S. Word 6.0a and saved in Word 2.0 format, it will exhibit a similar problem when you open the file in German Word. The error message that appears in the German version is

   Fehler! Unbekanntes Schalterargument.

   {\EINBETTEN MsDraw \* mergeformat }

CAUSE

The EMBED field, which holds the Draw information, contains a field switch which is not properly converted.

RESOLUTION

1. Switch to field code view.

   (To switch to field code view in Word 2.x, choose Field Codes from the View menu. In Word 6.0, choose Options from the Tools menu, select the View tab, and select the Field Codes option.)

   The drawing object disappears and its field code shows:

         {\EMBED MSDraw \* FormatVerbinden}
   

2. Select the word "FormatVerbinden" and delete it.

3. Type the word "Mergeformat" (without the quotation marks) in its place.

   The field should now look like this:

         {\EMBED MSDraw \* Mergeformat}
   

4. Switch back to field results view.

   (To switch to field results view in Word 2.x, choose Field Codes from the View menu. In Word 6.0, choose Options from the Tools menu, select the View tab, and clear the Field Codes option.)